Packaging support tray

ABSTRACT

A container for objects and particularly for fresh produce and the like which comprises a relatively planar top member having a pair of compartmented walls hinged along and depending from the longitudinal edges thereof. Optionally, the bottom longitudinal edges of the container walls may be provided with longitudinally extending article retaining lips. The compartmented wall members are adapted for the reception and retention of articles such as fresh produce. The entire structure may be overwrapped with transparent film.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,874,579

Holden, Jr. Apr. 1, 1975 PACKAGING SUPPORT TRAY 3,551,940 1/1971 Edison220/31 s Inventor: More" J Holden, J Canandaigua, 3,707,227 12/1972Britt 220/31 S Primary Examiner-Edward J McCarthy [73] Assignee: MobilOil Corporation, New York, Attorney, Agent, or FirmCharles A. Huggett;James N.Y. D. Tierney [22] F1led: Mar. 19, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl'N05 342,561 A container for objects and particularly for fresh produceand the like which comprises a relatively planar 52 U.S. c1. 229/25 topmember having a P of compartmented Walls 51 int. c1 B65d 1/00 hingedalong and depending from the longitudinal [58] Field of Search 229/25;217/265; edges thereof Optionally, the bottom longitudinal 220 5 edgesof the container walls may be provided with longitudinally extendingarticle retaining lips. The com- [5 References Cited partmented wallmembers are adapted for the recep- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion andretention of articles such as fresh produce.

The entire structure may be overwrapped with trans- 2,843.496 7/1958Altenburg 229/25 arem film 2,865,547 12/1958 Van Dyke 229/25 p 3,519,1897/1970 Bambara 229/25 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PACKAGING SUPPORT TRAYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to packaging support trays particularly adapted forholding fresh fruits and vegetables. The trays containing the producemay be overwrapped with transparent film, such as polyethylene,cellophane and the like for example. and used in retail sales toconsumers of such products. The trays offer a maximum degree ofprotection against bruising or other physical damage to the packagedcommodity while affording good visibility ofthe product to thepurchaser. Additionally the trays. as formed. may be nested togetherinto tray stacks for economy and ease of shipment to the point of use.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, support trays which werecommonly employed in the retail packaging of fruits and the like weresimply shallow. substantially flat bottom, rectangular trays overwrappedwith transparent film. Such trays did not prevent the rubbing or bumpingtogether of objects contained thereon during transit or handling therebycausing damage to relatively delicate produce such as fruits. U.S. Pat.Nos. D 160,737 and D 166,493 illustrate forms of support trays forfruits or similar articles employed by the prior art. However, it willbe noted that such package designs do not afford a maximum of productseparation and protection as in the case of the tray products of thepresent invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a packagingtray structure having a substantially rectangular planar top and twoside walls flexibly hinged along the longitudinal edges of the planartop member. Each of the side walls has a plurality of inwardly extendingrecesses in side by side relationship. The recesses are substantiallycoextensive in height with the height of the side wall members. Therecesses may have a longitudinally extending retaining and support wallhinged along their bottom edges which wall extends upwardly andoutwardly from the recess base. The configuration of the recesses may beany form which generally conforms to the shape of the object beingpositioned therein for packaging, i.e., they may be oval, rounded,hemispherical and the like. Although a wide variety of materials may beemployed to form the tray structures of the present invention.particularly preferred materials include molded pulp and plastic. suchas clear plastic sheet, e.g.. polystyrene or polystyrene foam forexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anerected tray structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the tray structure as it is formedand before it is erected by folding along predetermined hinge lines.

FIG. 3 is a top planar view of the tray structure as it is formed andbefore it is erected by folding along predetermined hinge lines.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the erected tray structure asillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another form of tray structure in accordwith the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top planar view of the tray structure illustrated in FIG. 6as it is formed and before it is erected by folding along predeterminedhinge lines.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIG. 1, thecontainer structures of the present invention comprise a relatively flatplanar top wall member 11 which may be rectangularly shaped. Hingedalong the longitudinal edges 12 of top wall 11 are panels 13 whichhingedly connect top wall 11 with depending, Compartmented side wallsgenerally designated as 20. Side wall members 20 are characterized byhaving a series of compartments or pockets 15 adapted for the receptionof produce such as, for example. individual apples as shown in phantomin FIGS. 1 and 5. The individual compartments are separated by partitionwalls 21 which form an integral part of the individual pockets 15. In aparticular embodiment of the tray structures of the present invention,as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, integrally hinged to and extendingcontinuously along the base of individual compartment members 15 is anarticle retaining lip 17 which forms an angle with the base ofcompartment members 15.

Lip 17 serves to provide for protection and as a base support forarticles positioned in compartments 15 as more clearly illustrated inFIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 1, a longitudinally extending panel 19 may beemployed to rigidify and strengthen retaining lip 17, panel 19 beingintegrally hinged along the longitudinal edge of lip 17.

Compartmented side walls 20 each comprise a series of inwardlyprojecting pockets 15 for the containment of articles it is desired topackage. Although for purposes of illustration three individual pockets15 are shown on each side wall 20, the number of pockets may vary fromone up to twelve or more. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the individualpockets are defined by side wall pocket members 21 and a generallyconcave pocket rear wall member 22.

The tray structures of the present invention may be formed frommaterials such as molded pulp or thermoplastic resins and the like. Aparticularly preferred material of construction is polystyrene foam.Typically, a sheet of polystyrene foam on the order of from about 50mils up to about mils is preheated to a forming temperature in the rangeof from about F. to about 250F. and is subsequently thermoformedutilizing, for example, vacuum forming techniques or matched metalmolds. Preferably the tray is thermoformed in an extended position asillustrated in FIG. 3 and later, when ready for use, is erected as shownin FIG. 1 by folding along integral hinge lines l2, 14, 16 and 18 ashereinbefore discussed. The integral hinges are formed in the trayduring thermoforming operations by compression of the foam along linescorresponding to the hinge areas,

Pocket side wall members 21 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 aregenerally planar, extending perpendicularly from pocket rear walls 22.However, the geometrical configurations of the tray pockets 15 in accordwith the present invention may vary widely and are usually selected toaccommodate the shape of the articles being packaged. For example, thepockets as illustrated in FIG. 6 are generally in the shape ofhemispheres to accommodate rounded commodities such as oranges roundedand hemispherical in shape. As in the case of 5 the tray structure ofH08. 1 through 5, an article retaining and supporting lip 37 may beprovided which is hinged at 36 along the base of recesses 35. Also, asshown in FIG. 6 planar top member 31 may be embossed or printed withadvertising indicia.

While specifically preferred embodiments of the invention have beenshown and described with particularity, it will be appreciated thatvarious changes and modifications may be made without departing from theinvention, and may be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art uponbeing appraised of the present invention. It is intended to encompassall such changes and modifications as fall within the scope and spiritof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A packaging tray comprising a substantially planar top member, saidtop member having flexibly hinged along opposite longitudinal edgesthereof two side wall members, said side wall members being adapted todepend downwardly from said planar top member, said side wall membersbeing further characterized by having a plurality of inwardly extendingrecesses in side by side relationship, said recesses being substantiallycoextensive in height with the height of said side wall members.

2. A packaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recesscomprises a substantially concave 7 rear wall and substantially planarside walls on opposite sides of said rear wall.

3. A packaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tray iscomposed of polystyrene foam.

4. A packaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tray iscomposed of molded pulp.

5. A packaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recess issubstantially hemispherical in shape.

6. A packaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tray iscomposed of substantially transparent thermoplastic sheet.

7. A packaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein a longitudinalretaining wall is positioned along the bottom edges of said recesses,said wall extending outwardly and upwardly from said bottom edges.

1. A packaging tray comprising a substantially planar top member, saidtop member having flexibly hinged along opposite longitudinal edgesthereof two side wall members, said side wall members being adapted todepend downwardly from said planar top member, said side wall membersbeing further characterized by having a plurality of inwardly extendingrecesses in side by side relationship, said recesses being substantiallycoextensive in height with the height of said side wall members.
 2. Apackaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recess comprisesa substantially concave rear wall and substantially planar side walls onopposite sides of said rear wall.
 3. A packaging tray in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said tray is composed of polystyrene foam.
 4. Apackaging tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tray is composedof molded pulp.
 5. A packaging tray in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid recess is substantially hemispherical in shape.
 6. A packaging trayin accordance with claim 1 wherein said tray is composed ofsubstantially transparent thermoplastic sheet.
 7. A packaging tray inaccordance with claim 1 wherein a longitudinal retaining wall ispositioned along the bottom edges of said recesses, said wall extendingoutwardly and upwardly from said bottom edges.